As a freshman, I stumbled upon this stream while looking at every potential stream that I might be chosen for. I thought to myself what a great stream this was to have your very own independent project. I was so excited to research about cancer or ringworms and all sorts of strange diseases. I expected this stream to be a “no-team-by-myself kind of stream”, but I was wrong. I learn that teamwork is what this stream strives for and that communication is key. I learned that even the strangest project, Waller Creek was the one I hold dearest to my heart. I tell people all the time that I am in a research stream where everyone had potential to change the world.
I tell myself all the time that I am a pre-med student, but do I really love it? It’s really easy to tell that I have no passion for med-school, but I still strive for my parent’s expectations, not my heart. When I hear that I get to be in a lab and going through the stages of failures and success, it gives me the chills down my spine. I learned so many great things and a thing that I am not too fond of as well (the apps), but this stream was really a test to see if I really knew myself.
The best thing that I had encountered during this lab was being able to work along with my mentors during the summer and being actually useful to them. It was so funny when Sarah accidently transferred the mEI plate instead of the mTEC plate into the 44.5 degree water bath and I was basically hyperventilating trying to search for the missing mEI plate. I think my experience was a lot more fun and enjoyable than other undergrads. This research stream really helps me figure out who I am and what did I really enjoy. I can see this stream running for over 20 years because this stream has something that others do not, a chance to figure who you really are through the frustration and success this stream had to offer. I can see myself going to grad school and be like how Sherry is now. It is actually very exciting to see what my future holds with this experience.